Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Davao City (Agenzia Fides) - Two Philippines religious women, committed to peace, defence of the indigenous peoples and the natural heritage of Mindanao, have been accused by the military of being "communists and rebels," supporters of the guerrilla group "New People's Army" (NPA ), which for decades have held in check the government in Manila with an armed insurrection of communist origins. As learned by Fides, the victims of a smear campaign of some Philippine military officers are Sister Stella Matutina OSB, a Benedictine nun and Sister Julita Encarnacion, of the Sisters of the Assumption of Mary. The two religious sisters have long been committed on the island of Mindanao in campaigns for peace, justice and the defence of the environment. They criticized the extensive work of mining exploitation and natural resources, with which foreign corporations, thanks to agreements with the government, plunder the riches of Mindanao. They denounced the corruption of local authorities. They are on the indigenous peoples side and have raised their voice against the impunity of murders that cross the island, even in the killing of the missionary Fr. Fausto Tentorio, PIME. They have coordinated activities and demonstrations of the civil society and of the Christian communities in Mindanao. But, above all, they are considered "enemy of the army" because they denounced the repression campaign on behalf of the military in the operation counter-insurgency "Oplan Bayanihan", initiated by the Arroyo government and confirmed by the government of Benigno Aquino.
The operation provides for a massive military budget in Mindanao to fight the rebels of the NPA and unearth the leaders. These operations, however - the nuns denounce - often involve abuse of power, human rights violations, violent actions against civilians and natives, extrajudicial killings of activists and local leaders, especially through the paramilitary militias created and guided by the army. The sisters have also launched a petition calling for the withdrawal of the military, stating that "until the Armed Forces of the Philippines continues to serve the interests of big companies, their so-called peace will only bring more chaos and suffering to poor communities."
Sister Encarnacion Julita is part of an association which brings together many missionaries, called "Rural Missionaries of the Philippines". Sister Stella has created in the diocese of Mati the group "Benedictines for Peace" and is the Secretary of the NGO "Panalipdan Mindanao," organization of "advocates and defenders of the environment, of Creation and heritage of Mindanao." In the past, with two other members of the movement, Sister Stella was arrested and interrogated for eight hours. The soldiers of the 28th Battalion of Infantry, settled in Davao Oriental, said that "Sister Stella is a nun in disguise, in truth she is a member of the NPA." The same leaders of the Battalion had also accused Fr. Tentorio of being a member of the NPA.
Father Angel Calvo, a Claretian missionary in Mindanao for 40 years, reminds Fides that "to accuse priests, nuns and missionaries of being communist rebels was common practice at the time of the Martial Law, for all those who criticized the regime. Now the timing and context are very different, the accusers are some local military leaders. But the missionaries are not scared, they continue to defend the values of the Gospel, the poor and the weak." (PA) (Agenzia Fides 15/5/2012)
